Patriots-Bills Week 2 Predictions: Tough Test For New England?
BOSTON (CBS) -- The New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills square off in a big AFC East matchup Sunday afternoon in Orchard Park, New York.
They both come in at 1-0 on the season after Week 1 wins, eager to try and create some early separation from their division foe. Here is how the WBZ-TV, WBZ NewsRadio 1030 and 98.5 The Sports Hub sports teams see Sunday's game going down:
Steve Burton, WBZ-TV Sports
This may be one of the their' toughest tests of the season, as the Patriots travel to Buffalo to take on a very confident Bills team that beat up the Colts in Week 1.
The Bills have one of the best defenses in the league. But this should ease the pain: Tom Brady is 23-3 in his career against Buffalo, more wins than any other team. Meanwhile, Gronk isn't the only tight end the Bills have to worry about this Sunday, as Scott Chandler can sting them as well. He didn't say much about it on Thursday, but he would love to burn his former team this weekend.
Both teams are 1-0 so something has to give.
Patriots 28, Bills 17
Dan Roche, WBZ-TV Sports
There is a lot of nervousness about this one in New England and perhaps rightly so.
The Bills have beaten the Patriots early in the season, in Buffalo, twice in the last four seasons. After a 34-31 Bills win in 2011, Buffalo went crazy because the Bills improved to 3-0. It would be a similar scenario if it the come away with a win on Sunday.
This is a good challenge for the Pats and I expect it to be a tight one.
Patriots 31, Bills 27
Levan Reid, WBZ-TV Sports
I know there is a lot of hype around the Buffalo Bills right now and I get it. They have some new offensive pieces and, more importantly, Rex Ryan. Ryan alone will bring the machine and, on Sunday, he's going to have the crowd. But they'll need more.
Beating the Colts the way they did last week was more of an indictment on Indianapolis than anything else. The Pats are tougher offensively and they will have a game plan to quiet the crowd. Expect LeGarette Blount to have a big day running the ball and a steady stream of passes to Scott Chandler. Gronk and Edelman will get their touches but Rex will try to take them away, so the secondary offensive players will need to step up.
Defensively, and this is the key, the Pats should crowd the box and force Tyrod Taylor to beat them. If he does, the Pats will lose, but I don't think he will.
It will be a loud start with the Buffalo crowd, but a quiet finish.
Patriots 30, Bills 20
Adam Kaufman, WBZ NewsRadio 1030/98.5 The Sports Hub
The Patriots have beaten the Bills in 21 of 24 - which includes a meaningless Week 17 defeat last year when most starters, including Tom Brady, didn't play. The Pats are 4-9 all-time against Rex Ryan - with all of those meetings coming when the coach led the Jets - but five of the last six decisions have been decided by three points or fewer.
Sunday, those outcomes will mesh together for a narrow New England victory over Ryan's new squad.
What makes this game so interesting is, of course, the unknown. Tyrod Taylor impressed in an upset of the Colts, he's incredibly mobile, and he has several weapons with which to work (Percy Harvin, Sammy Watkins, Charles Clay, LeSean McCoy). Brady and the Pats will be limited on the ground even with LeGarrette Blount back, given Buffalo's renowned front-four, but might be able to exploit the Bills' secondary.
Patriots 24, Bills 21 (Scott Chandler with more than one yard and one target!)
Mike "Sarge" Riley, WBZ NewsRadio 1030/98.5 The Sports Hub
Rex Ryan always goes the extra mile against Bill Belichick and the Patriots. Tom Brady and the offense do their job early, but the Bills D will be the difference maker in the second half.
Rex and the Bills will be circling the wagons after starting 2-0.
Bills 28, Patriots 27
James Stewart, 98.5 The Sports Hub
Rex Ryan's defense will give Tom Brady trouble, thus the Bills will come up with a victory. If this was later in the season, the Bills would have no chance. The Patriots, historically, are vulnerable in September, and the Bills will take advantage this Sunday.
Bills 21, Patriots 17
Marc Bertrand, 98.5 The Sports Hub
Patriots 31, Bills 24
Rob "Hardy" Poole, 98.5 The Sports Hub
The combination of safeties and missed extra points will result in an unheard of 11-11 tie.
Tune in to Patriots-Bills on 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBZ-TV — the flagship stations of the New England Patriots. Pregame coverage begins on 98.5FM at 10am with Patriots Preview, and stay tuned after the game for Patriots Postgame. Coverage begins on WBZ-TV at 11:30am with Patriots GameDay, followed by Patriots 5th Quarter after the game!